The Packers have won two in a row, but are only 2-5 at home. The Vikings have won only two out of their last eight, and those victories came against mighty Arizona and fearsome Detroit. These two teams last met in Week Ten, with Green Bay picking up the win on the road, 23-17.

RJ’S PICK – PACKERS BY 5

Saturday, December 23

Kansas City (7-7) at Oakland (2-12) – 8:00 p.m.

The Chiefs have lost three in a row and are 2-5 on the road. That’s not good. However, the Raiders have lost seven in a row and are 0-5 against division rivals. And that’s just plain horrible.

RJ’S PICK – KANSAS CITY BY 11

Sunday, December 24

Baltimore (11-3) at Pittsburgh (7-7) – 1:00 p.m.

Baltimore has wrapped up the AFC North, but is still fighting for a first-round bye. Their defense has given up the fewest points of any team in the NFL. The Steelers have won three in a row and are 5-2 at home. This should be a great game.

RJ’S PICK – PITTSBURGH BY 2

Carolina (6-8) at Atlanta (7-7) – 1:00 p.m.

Carolina has completely collapsed, having lost their last four games. Atlanta still has a realistic shot at making the playoffs as a Wild Card in the sorry NFC.

RJ’S PICK – FALCONS BY 3

Chicago (12-2) at Detroit (2-12) – 1:00 p.m.

The Bears have already clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs, so I’m thinking they’ll pretty much hand this one to Detroit. Which is the only way Detroit could possibly win.

RJ’S PICK – LIONS BY 17

Indianapolis (11-3) at Houston (4-10) – 1:00 p.m.

The Colts looked impressive last week, beating a solid Bengals team after they had lost three of their last four. They’ve already clinched the AFC South, but Tony Dungy badly wants that first-round bye, so don’t expect them to just roll over for the Texans.

RJ’S PICK – COLTS BY 7

New England (10-4) at Jacksonville (8-6) – 1:00 p.m.

This is an incredibly tough game to pick. New England is 5-1 on the road, but Jacksonville is 6-1 at home. Both teams have outstanding defenses and above-average offenses. New England needs a win in order to clinch their division; Jacksonville needs a win in order to stay alive as a Wild Card contender. This is a must-watch matchup.

RJ’S PICK – JAGUARS BY 1

New Orleans (9-5) at New York Giants (7-7) – 1:00 p.m.

The first half of the season, the Giants were 6-2. But they have gone 1-5 so far in the second half. If they want to be playing into the postseason, they pretty much have to win this one. New Orleans has already clinched their division, and has a decent shot at a playoff bye. The Saints have a better record on the road (5-2) than the Giants have at home (3-4). Wanna bet Eli Manning wishes he was playing for the Chargers now?

RJ’S PICK – NEW ORLEANS BY 3

Tampa Bay (3-11) at Cleveland (4-10) – 1:00 p.m.

Tampa Bay has lost four in a row, and is 0-7 on the road. Cleveland has lost two straight, and is 2-5 at home. This game is a waste of three hours.

RJ’S PICK – BROWNS BY 4

Tennessee (7-7) at Buffalo (7-7) – 1:00 p.m.

The Bills have won two in a row. Tennessee has won five in a row. Neither team is going to make the playoffs this year, but both should have high hopes for next season.

RJ’S PICK – BUFFALO BY 1

Washington (5-9) at St. Louis (6-8) – 1:00 p.m.

Both of these sub-par teams won last week. The Rams are 3-4 at home; the Redskins are 2-5 on the road. Blah.

RJ’S PICK – RAMS BY 6

Arizona (4-10) at San Francisco (6-8) – 4:05 p.m.

Arizona is 1-5 on the road. Dennis Green is two games away from hitting the road. San Francisco is 4-3 at home and, amazingly, still in contention for the NFC West crown.

RJ’S PICK – SAN FRANCISCO BY 4

Cincinnati (8-6) at Denver (8-6) – 4:15 p.m.

The Bengals lost last week, but they had won four in a row prior to that. Denver won last week, but they had lost four straight before that. Both teams are still in the hunt for an AFC Wild Card slot. Denver’s home field advantage hasn’t been very advantageous this season; they are only 3-3 at Mile High.

RJ’S PICK – BENGALS BY 2

San Diego (12-2) at Seattle (8-6) – 4:15 p.m.

San Diego is a ruthless juggernaut of a football team. They have won eight straight. They have the highest scoring offense in the NFL (by far). They have an above-average defense. However, they have not (yet) clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs, so they are still sufficiently motivated. Therefore, the mediocre Seahawks (who have given up 19 more points than they’ve scored this season) are pretty much fucked.

RJ’S PICK – CHARGERS BY 8

Monday, December 25

Philadelphia (8-6) at Dallas (9-5) – 5:00 p.m.

If the Eagles can pull out a win here, they will be in the driver’s seat in the NFC East. Winning their division seemed out of the question back in Week 11, when McNabb went down with a season-ending injury. But Philadelphia has rallied with backup QB Jeff Garcia under center. They’ve won three straight games, and are 4-1 when playing divisional opponents, including a victory in Week 5 against the Cowboys. As for Dallas, look for Terrell Owens to come out of the tunnel wearing some phat Hannibal Lecter-style mouth gear.

RJ’S PICK – EAGLES BY 1

New York Jets (8-6) at Miami (6-8) – 8:30 p.m.

The Jets are still playing for an AFC Wild Card spot. The Dolphins are still playing Joey Harrington at QB.

Baltimore (11-3) at Pittsburgh (7-7)… Somehow Pittsburgh fought their way to a .500 record. I must have been sleeping the past month because I sure didn’t see that coming. I still don’t see them overcoming Baltimore.

Carolina (6-8) at Atlanta (7-7)… Atlanta.

Chicago (12-2) at Detroit (2-12)… The entire Chicago team would have to get food poisoning to lose to hapless Detroit.

Indianapolis (11-3) at Houston (4-10)… Indy.

New England (10-4) at Jacksonville (8-6)… Brady controls this game easily. NE.

New Orleans (9-5) at New York Giants (7-7)… New Orleans. The Giants are in a downward spiral.

Tampa Bay (3-11) at Cleveland (4-10)… Cleveland.

Tennessee (7-7) at Buffalo (7-7)… Tennessee. I have a hard time picking against the miracle team.

Washington (5-9) at St. Louis (6-8)… St Louis.

Arizona (4-10) at San Francisco (6-8)… San Francisco. (Though now that I’ve picked them they’re going to lose.)

Cincinnati (8-6) at Denver (8-6)… Cincinnati.

San Diego (12-2) at Seattle (8-6)… San Diego.

Philadelphia (8-6) at Dallas (9-5)… I pray to god it is Philly. I’ll pick Dallas though, just so I don’t slit my wrists if Philly loses.

New York Jets (8-6) at Miami (6-8)… NYJ

DOM

Ok… The Oakland Raiders have not won a game since Oct 29… the season has been an absolute nightmere.. Last week was also a game they were supposed to win and instead they took it up the wazoo.. hard..lol. This last home game is a must win for every single person on the raiders side of the field. If the raiders lose this game, Shell and everybody else on the Raiders coaching staff will slit there wrist on the spot, and the fans will burn down the Oakland Colloseum.

Raiders by 20

the rest of my picks will be up when I get back from the game later tonight… lol.. Ya im going to this game..

http://www.roblogpolitics.blogspot.com RJ Elliott

“RJ’S PICK – KANSAS CITY BY 11″

Final Score:

KC 20, Oakland 9 – RJ 2-0 (I nailed the spread!)

DOM

I guess the raiders decided to stick with Al Davis’s “Committment of Excellence”.. oops I mean -of being the worst NFL team of all time.

DOM

1-1 going into sunday… So now Theory is one up on me..

Here are my picks.

PIT- umm.. more motive maybe?

ATL- idk.. I like Atlanta more that Car..

CHI- watch Detroit win..

INDY- only lock of the week?

JAX- need it more??

N.Y.G- post season aspirations.. saints going on the road..

CLE- tampa will show up at home vs seattle next week.

BUF- no reason for Tenn to win.. Buf last home game.

STL- tough game in a tough week.. who knows.

SF- RJ and Theory picking… can’t be good news.

CIN- righfully so.

SEA- say it aint so.. but.. I see unexpected win here.

DAL- philly 3rd road game in a row.. good luck.

N.Y.J.- I dont like Miami.

http://www.gwbush.blogspot.com RJ

It’s halftime (or thereabouts) in all nine of the early games, and my pick is losing in each and every single one. Merry f—ing Christmas! :-/

Here’s an idea for next season: Weekly NFL Picks, by RJ, DOM, and The Theory, all in one article!

Thoughts?

http://www.xanga.com/thetheory The Theory

Possible, though it seems like it might be kind of hard to co-ordinate in a timely manner. Because we would all want to wait to pick until after Monday evening… then would have to somehow compile them, send them to you (assuming you’d be the posterer… though I would have the capacity, too), and get them up by Thursday.

However, if you think that would work I would not be opposed. Here is my email sirtheory at gmail dot com.

DOM

I’m not quite sure what my situation will be next season cuz Im prob gonna go up to humboldt to continue my school.. but if things arn’t too crazy, I would definetley be down to do weekly picks with you and Theory.

http://www.roblogpolitics.blogspot.com RJ Elliott

Fair enough. Just be sure to remind me of this offer sometime in the Summer of ’07… 😉

Still looking for week 17 , lot of thought going into it this week, you know about the Saturday game right since it’s Sat morning and still no picks, you can still overtake the “experts” , finish dtrong mate.

Nick

Nick Stone

ment strong

Nick Stone

Oh and i went 13-3 last week against the spread picking ALL the dogs. I’m 113-232 against the spread with pushes omitted and having worst year of my life, after winning the pool last year, looking towards going all dogs in week 17 again except da bears,rams and panthers against the spreads incase anyone is interested. Cheers all happy new years great coloumn.

Nick

Nick Stone

or 113 right and 119 wrong , we do it differently across the pond, cheers.

Nick

http://www.roblogpolitics.blogspot.com RJ Elliott

Just in case “RJ’s Week 17 NFL Picks” doesn’t get published in time:

Saturday, Dec. 30

New York Giants (7-8) at Washington (5-10) – 8:00 pm

The Giants have finally slipped below .500 after having dropped their last two games. However, they are still likely to make it into the postseason with a win Saturday night (depending on how Green Bay does, and the strength-of-victory tiebreaker). The Redskins are just playing for pride, and the chance to be spoilers.

RJ’s Pick – Redskins by 1

The Theory

The thing about the Redskins is they don’t know how to quit. I don’t see them being an easy pushover… nor do I see them losing. The Giants are going to be in complete disarray with this loss and heads are going to roll in NY.

Nick Stone

skins/giants:
giants 4-6 at skins;over 5-0 skin home games vs giants

JUST SO YOU KNOW

Nick Stone

http://www.roblogpolitics.blogspot.com RJ Elliott

Er, just in case:

Sunday, Dec. 31

Carolina (7-8) at New Orleans (10-5) – 1:00 pm

Carolina becomes a playoff team with a win and a Giants loss plus a Packers loss. New Orleans has already wrapped up the #2 seed in the NFC and has nothing to play for, so they may rest their starters.

RJ’s Pick – Carolina by 3

Cleveland (4-11) at Houston (5-10) – 1:00 pm

Cleveland has dropped three straight. Houston is coming off a shocking win against the Colts last week.

RJ’s Pick – Texans by 4

Detroit (2-13) at Dallas (9-6) – 1:00 pm

This is a sad week for me, as I find myself forced to pick against my beloved Lions. Dallas is still playing for something (the NFC East title), while Detroit would actually be better off losing, so they can get the #1 pick in next year’s draft.

RJ’s Pick – Dallas by 23

Jacksonville (8-7) at Kansas City (8-7) – 1:00 pm

Both teams still have a shot at earning a Wild Card berth, but they both need a win and a lot of help. Jacksonville is an awful away team, so I’ll go with the Chiefs.

RJ’s Pick – KC by 5

New England (11-4) at Tennessee (8-7) – 1:00 pm

Tennessee has won sin in a row. If they can make it seven, they have a decent shot at making the postseason. And you can be sure that nobody wants to meet a team as hot as the Titans in the playoffs.

RJ’s Pick – Tennessee by 2

Oakland (2-13) at New York Jets (9-6) – 1:00 pm

The Jets are in with a win. Oakland is winless of the road this year.

RJ’s Pick – Jets by 11

Pittsburgh (7-8) at Cincinnati (8-7) – 1:00 pm

The Bengals can still make the playoffs with a win and some help. But the Steelers stand in their way, and the Super Bowl champs aren’t going to just roll over for a division rival in their last game of the season.

RJ’s Pick – Steelers by 6

Seattle (8-7) at Tampa Bay (4-11) – 1:00 pm

Seattle has nothing to play for since they wrapped up the NFC West last week. They’ve lost three in a row, and will probably rest some of their starters in this one. I believe we are about to witness a division champ go staggering into the playoffs as a .500 team.

RJ’s Pick – Tampa Bay by 2

Saint Louis (7-8) at Minnesota (6-9) – 1:00 pm

The Rams still have a chance to qualify for the postseason. The Vikings just want this season to end.

RJ’s Pick – Rams by 1

http://www.roblogpolitics.blogspot.com RJ Elliott

“Tennessee has won sin in a row.”

Should be “six” in a row. That’s why they have editors, I guess… :-/

http://www.friendlymisanthropist.blogspot.com alessandro nicolo

Man, you are pure kick ass. I loathe anyone in the NFC east – except the Eagles. Datsa nice beating dey lay on de Cowgirls.